LATE PENALTY PUTS IRONS UNDER FIRE AS FOREST WIN SIX-POINTER
Morgan Gibbs-White’s 89th-minute penalty saw Nottingham Forest claim a vital three points against relegation battle rivals West Ham at the London Stadium on Tuesday evening.
It was a difficult start for the visitors as Murillo’s efforts to clear Crysencio Summerville’s corner in the 13th minute saw him find the net against his own side.
Despite this, Forest dominated possession in the first half, but failed to capitalise on opportunities, while West Ham seemed to press more. That said, it would be unfair to suggest any real sense of danger from the hosts for the most part.
A wonderful strike by Summerville early in the second half appeared to have doubled The Hammers’ lead, but the goal was eventually disallowed after new boy Valentin Castellanos was found to be offside by the smallest of margins.
Moments later in the 55th minute, Nicolas Domniguez gave the visitors an equaliser, scoring from Elliot Anderson’s corner, and with it, a new lease of life.
In the closing part of the second half, it would be hard to argue that the home side had not dominated, but a poorly-judged clearance by Alphonse Areola saw Forest awarded a penalty after it was deemed that he had fouled Morgan Gibbs-White.
It was the Forest captain to take it, and indeed convert it to give the visitors three points, putting seven points between them and the drop zone, while West Ham go into the third round of the FA Cup now ten games without a win.